The Guardians’ push into the final week of the season has had plenty to do with young players stepping into bigger roles, and Angel Martinez is right in the middle of that surge.
Cleveland has stayed in strong playoff position even with Jose Ramirez having a down year, and the roster around him has helped carry the load. Chase DeLauter has emerged as one of the top rookie hitters in the majors, Travis Bazzana has played like an All-Star in his first season, and Parker Messick has become a real AL Cy Young candidate while also sitting near the top of the AL Rookie of the Year race.
Martinez may not fit the rookie label anymore, but he has finally turned his long-running promise into production. The outfielder has dealt with injury issues, yet when he has been on the field, he has made a major impact on both sides of the ball. Entering his three-hit game on Tuesday, he was batting .253/.289/.463 with 17 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and a 108 wRC+.
What makes Martinez so useful is the range of things he brings to the table. He has handled left-handed pitching well, posting a 126 wRC+ against them.
He can also cover all three outfield spots and do it adequately. Add in the power-speed mix, and he stays relevant every night.
The one drawback is the lack of walks, which drags down his on-base percentage and keeps a lid on his overall ceiling. Beyond that, though, there is a lot to like. He makes hard contact, brings some pop, runs well, and gives Cleveland a capable defender at multiple positions.
That’s a far cry from where he was in earlier seasons. Martinez was a frustrating hitter at times, finishing with an 82 wRC+ as a rookie in 2024 and a 73 mark last year.
He also posted negative fWAR in both of those seasons. This year has been a different story entirely, with Martinez worth 1.8 Wins Above Replacement so far.
At 24, he is still early in his career. Some players burst onto the scene immediately, while others need time to settle in. Martinez has clearly been the latter, and now he looks like an above-average player who matters to a team with real playoff hopes.
In Other News...
Guardians Clinched But Boston Still Holds A Huge Playoff Swing
The Guardians have already locked up their third straight trip to the postseason, thanks to a 1-0 win over the Red Sox that assured Cleveland a seat in October. What comes next still matters plenty, though, because the clubs final seeding and first-round path are tied to how Boston fares in a doubleheader against the Cubs.
A noreaster forced that makeup day into the schedule, and MLB is even weighing whether one of the games needs to be shifted to Tropicana Field. For Cleveland, the math is simple enough: Bostons results will help determine whether the Guardians get to host the ALDS or are headed to the Wild Card series, leaving the bracket picture unsettled for at least another day. [Read more 🡒]
Former Guardians Arm Is Back In Limbo At The Worst Time
Xzavion Curry is back in roster limbo after the Mets designated the former Guardians right-hander for assignment to clear space for waiver claim Philip Abner. Curry had spent most of his time with New York this season working in a long-relief role, logging 21 1/3 innings in the majors while also making appearances for Triple-A Syracuse.
Now the question is whether another club sees enough to put in a claim, or whether Curry clears waivers and gets pushed toward a more complicated next step. If he goes unclaimed, he can reject a minor league assignment and become a minor league free agent in the offseason, leaving his immediate future hanging at a time when every bullpen spot matters. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Reached October On A Fenway Swing Fans Wont Believe
Angel Martinez gave Cleveland the jolt it needed at Fenway, sending a 319-foot homer into the night and lifting the Guardians to a 1-0 win over the Red Sox. The victory punched their ticket to the postseason and kept them one game ahead in the AL Central, with the division still within reach as the final stretch tightened.
For a club that has leaned on run prevention all season, the formula held up again in Boston. Clevelands pitching staff blanked the Red Sox from start to finish, and the kind of slim-margin win that can define October left the Guardians with both a playoff berth secured and a division race still very much alive. [Read more 🡒]